Stories from Saturday, April 26, 2008

Mentos fountain record set in Cape last year broken Friday in Belgium(04/26/08)A group of Belgian students wearing blue ponchos broke the world record Friday for the most Mentos fountains by launching 1,360 geysers at the same time, according to reports in British media outlets. The fountains are activated by a reaction between the Mentos candy and cola when the candy is dropped into a soda bottle...

Cape County auditor pressed to resign, refuses(04/26/08)Cape Girardeau County officials have asked for the resignation of county auditor David Ludwig. But Ludwig, 61, doesn't want to resign. Al Lowes, of the Cape Girardeau law firm Lowes & Drusch, speaking on behalf of Ludwig, confirmed that the county auditor had been asked to resign for violating the county's computer-use policy...

Cape Girardeau woman wins big in lottery scratch-off game(04/26/08)A Cape Girardeau woman won $77,000 in a $5 Missouri Lottery scratch-off game, the state lottery commission reported. Jessie Reavis, 66, purchased the "Lucky 7's" ticket April 9 at Food Giant, 1120 N. Kingshighway. When she scratched off the first prize space to reveal a $10,000 win, she thought "someone was pulling a trick on me," Reavis told the lottery's public affairs office. "When I scratched off the other prizes, I started shaking like a leaf."...

Tournament brings influx of youths into Jackson today(04/26/08)This weekend, Jackson's got game. About 600 basketball players from 60 teams in grades four through 12 will compete in a Southeast Sports basketball tournament beginning today. Darrin Pruitt, area director for Mid America Youth Basketball, runs a business called Southeast Youth Sports, which has been organizing youth events since 2003. Mid America Youth Basketball is based in Kansas...

FEMA, SEMA personnel to be in Cape Girardeau starting Monday(04/26/08)The Federal Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Agency will have a joint team of "mitigation experts" on hand starting Monday through May 3 at Southeast Missouri Builders Supply, 411 Jefferson Ave. in Cape Girardeau, according to a FEMA news release...

Two suspicious fires still under investigation(04/26/08)Cape Girardeau firefighters responded to two structure fires Thursday night within the city. The first occurred at 516 N. Middle St. around 11:30 p.m., said fire chief Rick Ennis. The blaze started at the back of the house and crept up through the walls to the attic, causing heavy damage to the lower floors and considerable damage to the top floors of the house...

Dexter, Mo., man charged with statutory rape, child molestation(04/26/08)DEXTER, Mo. -- A 35-year-old Dexter man is in Stoddard County Jail today, charged on suspicion of molesting a 3-year-old girl. Chris Abernathy has admitted to molestation allegations, according to the Dexter Police Department. In a report from Dexter police Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley, Abernathy admitted to the charges of molestation during an interview on Wednesday...

Monument similar to Stonehenge sits near Patton, Mo., farm(04/26/08)PATTON, Mo. It may no longer be necessary to travel to Europe in order to see Stonehenge: One area family can boast of "The Circle," a monument reminiscent of the prehistoric English site. For Steve Wagoner, the architect of The Circle, constructing monuments has always been one of his fascinations. As a child, he admits to always liking to stack rocks and has built many monuments...

Missouri lawmakers target Carthage plant over odors(04/26/08)JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A spate of odor complaints about a southwest Missouri plant that turns turkey parts into fuel oil has prompted a get-tough bill in the legislature. A bill awaiting final Senate approval could force the Renewable Environmental Solutions plant in Carthage to close if it is cited for repeated clean air violations in the future...

Robber shot to death by off-duty police officer in St. Louis(04/26/08)ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis police officer moonlighting as a security officer at a restaurant shot and killed a would-be robber early Friday, police said. The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Brett Holloway of Waynesville, Mo. The officer's name was not released. He is a two-year veteran of the department. He was placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation...

Oil price surge has components of classic economic bubble(04/26/08)HOUSTON -- Oil's rise to nearly $120 a barrel looks like more than just another economic bubble -- growing demand and tighter supplies are likely to keep prices high. Some analysts say even $200 a barrel would not be out of the question. The latest price surge -- pushing crude to record heights in recent weeks, and to nearly double its level a year ago -- has some key components of a classic bubble, when market prices climb far above their intrinsic value. ...

Last of children from sect bused to foster homes(04/26/08)SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The last of 462 children seized from a polygamist sect's compound in West Texas were moved out of temporary shelter at a coliseum Friday and bused to foster homes across the state, state authorities said. Child Protective Services spokesman Darrell Azar said the last 260 children boarded buses Friday morning bound for foster group homes around Texas, most of them hundreds of miles from the children's homes. Authorities began busing the children out earlier this week...

Three NYPD officers cleared in 50-shot killing of groom-to-be(04/26/08)NEW YORK -- Civil rights leaders demanded a federal investigation and vowed to march through the streets in protest after three police officers were cleared of all charges Friday in the killing of an unarmed man cut down in a hail of 50 bullets on his wedding day...

Airlines tout celebrity chefs to lure travelers(04/26/08)First-class airline passengers can say goodbye to mystery meat. While complimentary meals have all but disappeared for most coach flights, there's a whole new culinary landscape for first class. In the latest effort to lure customers and create buzz, airlines are serving up gourmet menus cooked up by celebrity chefs...

Ohio man accused of plotting Columbine-style school attack(04/26/08)LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- A man accused of e-mailing an Indiana teenager about conducting a Columbine-style attack on two schools was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said Friday. Lee Billi, 33, of the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, was arrested Thursday and was being held in the city jail, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor said. A 16-year-old Indiana boy was arrested earlier in the week...

Pennsylvania man survives 500-foot fall into strip mine(04/26/08)ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- A man survived a 500-foot fall into a strip mine Friday, astounding rescuers who spent hours on a risky descent into the abyss to bring him back out. Police said Nathan Bowman was trespassing on coal company property around 1 a.m. Friday when he slipped and fell into the Springdale Pit, an inactive mine about 700 feet deep, 3,000 feet long and 1,500 feet wide...

U.S.-contracted ship in Persian Gulf fires warning shots(04/26/08)CAIRO, Egypt -- A civilian ship contracted by the U.S. military fired warning shots at two small boats that approached it in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy said Friday, the latest in a string of similar incidents to trigger concern in Washington. The U.S. military has been wary of small boats operating near its ships since an explosive-laden vessel rammed the USS Cole as it refueled off Yemen in 2000, killing 17 sailors...

Zimbabwe riot police raid offices of opposition party, election monitors(04/26/08)HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Riot police and intelligence officers ransacked opposition party headquarters and the offices of independent election monitors Friday, hauling away material documenting President Robert Mugabe's apparent electoral defeat. Hundreds of people were arrested in the raids, which sent a powerful message that Zimbabwe's longtime leader intends to hold onto power despite a growing global clamor for him to step aside and rising violence at home...

Police, helicopters surround Olympic torch runner in Japan(04/26/08)NAGANO, Japan -- Japanese runners bypassed minor protests today and carried the Olympic torch through Nagano's streets, lined by thousands of riot police and closely monitored by helicopters overhead. Police guards in track suits surrounded the first runner -- the manager of Japan's national baseball team -- and another 100 uniformed riot police trotted alongside six patrol cars and two motorcycles. They were backed up by thousands of other police...

Weather only delays Central's tournament victory against Sikeston(04/26/08)Central's Garrett Stevens pitched a first-round SEMO Conference tournament game Friday against Sikeston without his regular catcher, Alex Shell, who was attending a family wedding. The senior hurler, however, worked real well with backup battery mate Josh Compas to toss possibly his best game this spring...

Defending OVC baseball champion looks to climb OVC standings(04/26/08)If the Ohio Valley Conference baseball season ended today, defending champion Austin Peay would not make the league tournament. Suffice to say, the Governors will be hungry for wins when they visit Southeast Missouri State for a three-game weekend series...

Southeast football to play intrasquad game today(04/26/08)The Southeast Missouri State football team will conclude spring practice today with a 1 p.m. intrasquad game at Houck Stadium. Instead of splitting up its team, Southeast's spring contest will pit the offense vs. the defense under a scoring system that allows both units to compile points...

Area calendar(04/26/08)Baseball n Boys tournament: The Chaffee boys 13-year olds tournament will take place May 15 to 18 at the Chaffee Harmon field. It will be a double-elimination tournament. Cost: $175 per team. Info: Mike or Tina Johnson, 318-9063 or 318-6054. n American Legion tryout: The Cape Girardeau American Legion tryouts will be held May 4 at Capaha Field. ...

Plant yourself in someone else(04/26/08)Fruit has an uncommon commonality in culture, philosophy, politics, art and nutrition. We eat fresh fruit. We preserve it, jam it and spread it. Budding artists use bowls of fruit as their first aspects of training and inspiration. The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, the mango the national symbol for the Philippines, while the apple is symbolically linked both with the discovery of gravity and the forbidden fruit. Fruit is also a symbol of a well-lived life...

Religion briefs(04/26/08)Churches take part in National Day of Prayer The 2008 Community Prayer Breakfast and Service, a local observance in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, will be held May 1 at Greater Dimension Ministries, 723 Hackberry St., with food available any time from 6 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. and a prayer service from 7 to 7:45 a.m. The theme of this year's observance is Unity in Prayer — Strength in Community...

Leaving home(04/26/08)Leaving home can be one of the most difficult transitions you'll ever make. Turning away from surroundings and people you love often brings fear, loneliness and a sense of loss. How does one deal with this separation? Even though interacting with new people and environments and making a fresh start is appealing and beneficial, there's a part of you that wants to stay behind. ...

Judge who gave blacks-only lecture teams up with Cosby(04/26/08)ATLANTA -- Bill Cosby says apathy among some black Americans about violence, drugs, profanity and teenage sex has sunk to a level of asking someone to "pass the salt." The comedian, who has made waves by criticizing the black community in the past, appeared Thursday night with a Georgia judge who kicked whites out of his courtroom while he lectured black defendants...

Del Toro to direct 'The Hobbit' movies(04/26/08)LOS ANGELES -- Guillermo del Toro is directing "The Hobbit" and its sequel, New Line Cinema announced Thursday. The 43-year-old filmmaker will move to New Zealand for four years to make the films with executive producer Peter Jackson. Del Toro wrote and directed "Pan's Labyrinth," which earned six Oscar nominations in 2006 and won three awards. ...

Microsoft in quandary over Yahoo bid as key deadline looms(04/26/08)SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp. is no closer to buying Yahoo Inc. than when it made its $44.6 billion bid nearly three months ago, leaving the software maker in a quandary over whether the deal is still worth pursuing. A decision is likely to emerge in the next few days, with Yahoo facing a weekend deadline to accept the offer. Although the deadline expires Saturday, Microsoft has indicated it probably won't reveal its next move until early next week...

Elma Gourley(04/26/08)Elma Arbutus Gourley, 83, formerly of Jackson, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at Garden View Care Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at First Pentecostal Church. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Rose Richards(04/26/08)ADVANCE, Mo. -- Rose Lee Richards, 79, of Advance died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Monticello House in Jackson. She was born Aug. 31, 1928, at Sank, Mo., daughter of J.M. and Vallie Shell Null. She and Johnny Richards were married Feb. 19, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. He died Nov. 16, 2007...

Randy Davis(04/26/08)Randy C. Davis, 51, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 7, 1956, in Cape Girardeau, son of Charles E. and Rosetta E. Propst Davis. He and Sharon A. Moyers were married Oct. 28, 2001, in Las Vegas. Davis was a 1975 graduate of Jackson High School. He was employed by the city of Cape Girardeau 32 years, retiring in 2007...

Ercell Brant(04/26/08)Eve Ercell Brant, 85, of Scott City died Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Paris, Tenn., daughter of Jacob and Thelma McMunn Medlock. She and Elzie Lee Brant were married July 3, 1955, in Tunica, Miss...

Births 4/26/08(04/26/08)Miller Daughter to Jeff and Lauren Miller of Fayetteville, Ga., Piedmont Fayette Hospital, 3:08 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2008. Name, Mallerie Allison. Weight, 7 pounds, 13 ounces. First child. Mrs. Miller is the former Lauren Boyd, daughter of Johnny and Pam Boyd of Fayetteville. Miller is the son of Hershel and Barbara Miller of Cape Girardeau. He is an accountant with Mid-South Roof Systems in Atlanta...

Fire reports 4/26/08(04/26/08)Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: n At 3:40 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3000 block of Boutin Drive. n At 4:38 p.m., emergency medical service in the 500 block of South Hanover Street. n At 5:03 p.m., emergency medical service in the 100 block of South Park Avenue...

Police reports 4/26/08(04/26/08)Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Skyler N. Carter, 20, 555 N. Spring Ave., No. 54, was arrested on two Perry County, Mo., warrants for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance...

Protect young victims(04/26/08)By Kathy Blevins The rape of a child is truly one of the worst imaginable crimes. The long-term results cannot be measured but are evident in the lives of adults who were sexually abused. Some of these effects are addictions to drugs and alcohol, risky behaviors, behavior problems, uncontrolled anger, school problems, prostitution and a long list of behaviors that are harmful to the person and to society...

Be careful with your home security(04/26/08)To the editor: I appreciate you getting this story ("Cape man faces tampering, harassment charges") out in the public. My husband and I have learned a valuable lesson from all this. People need to be aware of who they let into there home and onto there property...

Speak Out 4/26/08(04/26/08)Best of times THE ECONOMY is looking great, the war in Iraq is going better, and I've never had it so good in my life as far as retirement or economic times. We owe it to one man: our president. I hate to hear all this running down of America at this time. This is the best time there ever was in America, and we need to enjoy it. God bless America...

Booker still living his Hoop Dreams(04/26/08)When Jamie Booker finished up his high school basketball career at Portageville High School, he knew he would be playing college basketball. He didn't know how the story would change, and where it would take him. During that last year of high school basketball, Jamie signed a letter of intent to play for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff. After graduating high school, he was all set to attend TRCC, but wanted to play one more summer of AAU basketball...